Controlling voice communications over a data network

Abstract

A method and apparatus of communicating over a data network includes providing a user interface in a control system for call control and to display information relating to a call session. The control system communicates one or more control messages (e.g., Session Initiation Protocol or SIP messages) over the data network to establish a call session with a remote device in response to receipt of a request through the user interface. One or more commands are transmitted to a voice device associated with the control system to establish the call session between the voice device and the remote device over the data network. A Real-Time Protocol (RTP) link may be established between the voice device and the remote device.

1. A method of communicating over a data network, comprising:
 providing a user interface in a control system for establishing a call session in which audio and video data are communicated; 
 communicating, by the control system, one or more control messages over the data network to establish a call session with a remote device in response to receipt of a request through the user interface; and 
 transmitting one or more commands to a telephony device connected to the data network and associated with the control system to establish the call session between the telephony device and the remote device over the data network to exchange the audio data and video data between the telephony device and the remote device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communicated one or more control messages and the transmitted one or more commands are according to different formats. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing the call session includes establishing a Real-Time Protocol session over the data network. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the one or more control messages includes communicating messages according to a protocol defining real-time, interactive call sessions over a packet-switched data network. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the one or more control messages includes communicating one or more Session Initiation Protocol messages. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing, in the control system, an Internet Protocol address and port of the telephony device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication from the telephony device to establish another call session with the remote device. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying graphical user interface information of the call session on the control system. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising terminating the call session using either the user interface or the telephony device. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying an image of at least one of a caller or callee in the user interface. 
     
     
       11. A method of communicating over a data network, comprising:
 in a control system, communicating one or more control messages over the data network to establish a call session with a remote device coupled to the data network, wherein audio and video data are exchanged in the call session; 
 transmitting one or more commands to a network telephone coupled to the data network; 
 establishing the call session between the network telephone and the remote device over the data network to exchange audio and video data; and 
 displaying information associated with the call session on the control system. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein displaying the information includes displaying graphical user interface information. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein communicating the one or more control messages includes communicating Session Initiation Protocol messages. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing one or more indicators for call control in the control system. 
     
     
       15. A system for controlling a user terminal connected to a data network, comprising:
 a user interface including one or more selectors for call control relating to call sessions; 
 a controller configured to receive a request from the user interface and to generate one or more messages for communication over the data network to establish a call session with a remote device; and 
 an interface to transmit one or more commands relating to the call session to the user terminal to establish a link between the user terminal and the remote device over the data network, wherein audio and video data are exchanged in the link. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more messages include Session Initiation Protocol messages. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the user interface includes one or more elements to display information relating to the call session. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the information displayable in the user interface includes an image of at least one of a caller and callee. 
     
     
       19. An article including one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media containing instructions for controlling multimedia communications over a data network, the instructions when executed causing a system to:
 provide a user interface in the system to display information associated with a call session; 
 communicate one or more control messages over the data network with a remote device to establish the call session between a user terminal and the remote device, wherein multimedia data, including audio and video data, is exchanged in the call session; and 
 control the user terminal during the call session. 
 
     
     
       20. The article of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more storage media contain instructions that when executed cause the system to communicate Session Initiation Protocol messages. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the one or more commands to the telephony device is performed by the control system. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing the call session between the telephony device and the remote device comprises establishing a Real-Time Protocol (RTP) session. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 11 , wherein establishing the call session between the network telephone and the remote device comprises establishing the call session between the network telephone connected to the data network and the remote device, and
 wherein transmitting the one or more commands to the network telephone is performed by the control system. 
 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the established link between the user terminal and the remote device comprises a Real-Time Protocol (RTP) link.